Contact:
Amanda Crowe
PALM ER, Alaska – (March 9, 2020) The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) announces up to $445,000 of funding available in Alaska for eligible individuals, local and state governments, non-governmental organizations, and tribes through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program.
The deadline to submit an application for CIG is 5 p.m. AKST on May 15, 2020. Applications must be submitted online through grants.gov.
In conjunction with agricultural production, CIG is intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging federal investments in environmental enhancement and protection. Projects must be within Alaska and may be area-based or statewide in scope.
“The CIG program is critical for developing science, technology and innovative tools to address natural resource concerns on Alaska’s private working lands,” said State Conservationist Alan McBee. “CIG helps bridge the gap between initial product development and taking that product or approach to market. The overall goal is to incorporate new innovations into NRCS technical manuals and make them available to the agricultural community.”
Applicants submitting proposals for the Alaska CIG may request up to $445,000 of matching federal funds. Applicants must provide a least 50 percent non-federal match that can be cash, in-kind or a combination of both.
The proposal must involve Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) eligible producers and should demonstrate the use of innovative technologies or approaches to address a natural resource concern in one of the following sub-categories: wildfire hazard from biomass accumulation, plant productivity and health, or soil health.
CIG does not fund research projects. The program is designed to aid the adoption of measures that have been sufficiently studied to indicate a high likelihood of success.
Additional information about the 2020 CIG is provided in the Alaska CIG Announcement of Program Funding, available online at Grants.gov.
Applicants who have questions regarding the application process should contact the CIG Program Manager, Amanda Crowe, at 907-761-7757, or by e-mail at amanda.crowe@usda.gov.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides financial and technical assistance to voluntary farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to implement conservation practices on private lands. By working collectively with partners and stakeholders, NRCS helps maintain healthy and productive working landscapes, benefitting both environmental and agricultural needs. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
